CitySeed engages the community in growing an equitable local food system that promotes economic development, community development, and sustainable agriculture. CitySeed organizes and runs farmers’ markets in five neighborhoods of New Haven—Wooster Square, Downtown, Fair Haven, Edgewood Park, and The Hill—and is a founding member of the New Haven Food Policy Council.
CitySeed is committed to improving the health of the community by enabling residents to eat fresh, locally grown and affordable food, which is especially important given the fact that low-income communities are at greater risk for obesity and other diet-related illnesses. Moreover, by supporting local farmers and keeping food dollars in the community, the markets have an immediate, positive impact on the local economy while promoting sustainable agriculture and community development. All five markets are certified to accept Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons, which are distributed to nutritionally at-risk women, infants, children and senior citizens, as well as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps). CitySeed was nationally recognized in 2007 as the “Golden Grocer Hunger Champion” in the farmers’ market category by USDA for its Food Stamp and nutrition education programs.
The clinic’s work for CitySeed, spanning over ten years, has included transactional legal work, regulatory legal work, and public policy advocacy. In addition to advising on legal issues surrounding operation of the farmers’ markets, the clinic has worked with CitySeed to research and analyze food policy and advocate for improvement in food-related laws and regulations.
